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The cost of power in Bulgaria

A man shouts slogans and wave national flags during a protest against high electricity prices and for an new political system on 03 March 2013. EPA/VASSIL DONEV

On Tuesday, March 19 at 19:30 GMT:

Protests in Bulgaria against high electricity prices and government corruption have forced the prime minister and his government to step down. Yet demonstrations – including self-immolations – across the EU’s poorest nation continue as citizens ready themselves for early elections in May. Will a new government fix the root causes of Bulgaria's broken democracy, or does the country need a more drastic overhaul?

Protests in Bulgaria

Below is a video of a March 3 protest in the Bulgarian coastal city of Varna:

Varna protest 03. 03. 2013 Horo!sarcazmon

Throughout the winter, anger had been mounting over a spike in electricity costs. Utility bills make up a large portion of monthly household expenses for Bulgarians, who earn the lowest average wages in the European Union.

In this video, residents of the town of Shumen show their utility bills to reporters and explain their economic hardships caused by higher prices:

Протест срещу високите сметки за ток в Шуменfireiceofficial

During a February 17 protest in Sofia, thousands of angry Bulgarians chanted "mafia" and demanded the expulsion of the three foreign-controlled power distributors that control the local market, Czech Republic's CEZ, Energo-Pro, and Austria's EVN:

Протест в София от въздуха 17.2.2013iasssen

Hundreds of thousands are out in the streets across #Bulgaria protesting private monopolies of utilities and economic hardship!!!Mariya Petkova

After several protests turned violent, Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and his cabinet resigned February 20. The video below shows protesters in Sofia clashing with police the day before the government stepped down:

Anti-govt protest in Sofia, Bulgaria - 19-02-13ruslantrad

@velqn: The Cabinet fell: Borisov will submit his resignation to Parliament!!!

Goranov was memorialised on social media as well as in vigils across Bulgaria:

Plamen GoranovAJstream

Vigil for Plamen GoranovAJstream

The future of the protests remains uncertain, as factions have reportedly emerged among the demonstrators. It also remains unclear whether the protesters will have any role in the new caretaker government.

Several protest leaders walked out of a meeting organised by President Rossen Plevneliev. In the video below from a Bulgarian news report, protest organiser Angel Slavchev explains why he walked out, saying, "We will not sit at a table with those whom we fight."